Wings Of Eagles Mare Draws Clear At Punchestown

The Great Nudie (5m Wings Of Eagles – Blue Gale, by Be My Native) relished a change of tactics at Punchestown on Monday, when the Colin Bowe-trained mare ran out a clear winner of the rated novice hurdle.

An impressive winner of a four-year-old maiden last May, the Leo McArdle-owned mare made a winning hurdle bow in November and was reunited with Sean Flanagan on Monday. Making all of the running, she extended her advantage from two out and stayed on well to beat the short-priced favourite Goraibhmaithagat (Flemensfirth) by seven lengths.

The winning rider later commented: “I rode her here in a Listed race the last day and kind of covered her up a little bit, and she didn’t like it. The ground conditions today really suited her. She jumped and travelled well, jumping is key to her.”

Bred by the Beeches Stud, The Great Nudie hails from the first Irish crop of Wings Of Eagles.